Tip of the Day
The Shake Test
Shaking salt on our food can become instinctual, to the point that we hardly notice how much we're adding. Take the shake test to find out.
Take a bowl and cover it with foil or plastic wrap. Now act as if your food is on that plate and shake out about as much salt as you normally would. Measure how much salt is in the bowl. If you shook as much as ¼ teaspoon of salt, you added almost 600 milligrams of sodium to your day in just one meal!
While your body does need sodium to function, on average Americans consume about 3,400 milligrams of sodium daily while the Institute of Medicine's Daily Reference Intakes recommends a maximum of 2,300 milligrams. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 1,500 milligrams for those 51 and older and those of any age who are African-American or have hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.
For more information on how to reduce sodium in your eating plan, consult a registered dietitian in your area and visit our Eat Right Nutrition Tips section.
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